This is the 14th in our ongoing series highlighting our happy yogis. This week we’re profiling Jody Smith of Wayzata, Minnesota, who was the first customer of ours to order 4 (FOUR!) yoga mats in a single order, way back last fall before we had even really began promoting our work. Our first reactions was… Huh? That’s gotta be a mistake… OH MY GOD! SOMEONE JUST ORDERED FOUR MATS! FOUR! And then we did the happy dance around our workshop. It was an incredibly exciting day for us, needless to say. (And, to top it off, she was a complete stranger to us at the time, which made this purchase out of the blue even MORE exciting — it meant we were doing something right :-)
QWhat should we call you?
AJody works for now — but I’m on the hunt for my inner Beyoncé, so stay tuned!
QTell us a little bit about yourself…
AI am a writer, a change maker and a woman who loves to make art and support art. I have 2 girls who are my constant source of inspiration. I like to be outside (although I haven’t been there for months now) and I have a special place in my heart for the smell of salt water. My former bootcamp self is in the beginning stages of exploring yoga, salt therapy and any other modalities that are a bit more spiritual.
QWhat kind of asanas do you practice?
AWhatever Michele Henkel tells me to do. HA!
QHow long have you been a yogi?
AA hot minute.
QWhat role does yoga play in your life?
ACurrently not a very big one, but I’m hoping it continues to grow. I do meditate daily and practice mindfulness at every turn though.
QDo you have a favorite pose?
AWarrior 2 (no surprise with my Aries moon. HA!)
QHave you ever had a “yoga moment”, something that happened during practice that you didn’t expect? That made you laugh, brought you joy, made you cry?
AI was brought to tears the first day I stepped on my new mat.
QIs there a pose that used to be a “pillar pose” — one that you were working toward — that is now accessible to you?
ANo.
QWhen you placed your order with Big Raven Yoga, what made you choose the 4 (FOUR!) mats you chose? (Amélie in Paris, The Purpose of Life, I. Love. This. Quote. and She Brings It to the Canvas.)
A My desperate quest to find peace with my body.
QDo you have your eyes fixed on any other Big Raven designs? If so, which one(s) and why?
AI seriously could not pick. Apparently I have multiple personalities.
QDo people ask you about your mat?
AEVERY SINGLE TIME
QAny final thoughts?
AI think you are doing amazing work and I love your product. Just tell me where to send people and how to help you!
Thank you, Jody — we’re really, REALLY happy to take you up on your offer! We LOVE getting a boost from our customers, and we love that they’re as excited about our yoga mats as we are!
Jody owns Amélie in Paris, The Purpose of Life, I. Love. This. Quote. AND She Brings It to the Canvas!